Windfinder Said Fishable…Lake Michigan Chose Violence
WTF is up with the dude running the Windfinder app? Earlier this week today looked beautiful, tomorrow looked fishable, and Sunday looked flat calm. Perfect weekend lineup. Tomorrow’s crew was fully locked in too. Me, Surgeon Jenn, 23 for 23 Elise, Asher, Logan, and Logan’s mystery friend. We were ready for a full no mercy beatdown.
Then apparently the weather app guy woke up and chose lies…Scratch all of that…Tomorrow has now turned into a soup making day instead of a fishing day. Today became the “fish through the slop” trip and Sunday is now the new hope.
Honestly, probably for the best.
Boat prep has been elite though. Last Sunday Surgeon Jenn and I spent four straight hours in 40 degree temps with 25 mph winds giving the Tiara the deepest cleaning of its life. We were one toothbrush short of detailing the molecular structure of the boat…Actually…we now have a toothbrush on the boat specifically for that purpose…Finished everything off today right down to the Rain-X because we are professionals.
I was at the boat from 11am until 2pm and the southwest wind was absolutely humming the entire time. I’m standing there thinking, “How exactly is this producing 1.5 to 2.4 footers?” Spoiler alert…It wasn’t.
The plan was meet at the boat at 4pm, run south toward Bass Lake, catch 15 trout with a few bonus salmon, slide shallow, and finish off a 5 man limit with giant brown trout…At least that was Logan’s plan.
Meanwhile we’re motoring south in legitimate 3 to 5 footers and I’m already adjusting expectations. I finally announced, “I want one fish today. One. Save the skunk and get Asher his first Lake Michigan fish…then El Rancho.”
Everyone laughed…I’m funny like that.
It took forever just to get to the Projects…We finally started in 50 FOW and slowly got rods set while getting bounced around like 5 socks in a dryer. We managed to get four lead cores, two high divers, and two riggers in before things started happening…My rigger pops and Asher absolutely manhandles his first Lake Michigan fish like he’s been doing it for years…Perfect…Mission accomplished…Time for El Rancho? Nope.
We worked north toward straight out and eventually called it early because honestly the lake was just annoying. Could have made it to El Rancho before 7pm too, but: 1) I already ate hummus wraps on the boat 2) Logan had major business at grandma’s 3) Elise needed a nap so she could stay up until 1am
So instead of inhaling the best food in Ludington, I’m sitting here typing this nonsense for all of you.
Official stats for the afternoon: 1 bite. 1 fish. 1 rookie Lake Michigan fish successfully boated. Perfect. (And no, I’m not counting the six to ten times Logan stares at a rod sideways, pops the release manually, and reels fast like he just detected a psychic bite.)
Hot Bite:
Wonderbread Whirly Gig lake trout rig on downrigger on bottom – 1 bite
What I learned today:
Elise definitely preferred the flat calm 25 for 27 morning over the 3 to 6 footer 1 for 1 afternoon.
Surgeon Jenn and I also preferred the 25 for 27 morning. Shocking.
Asher is going to be a great addition to big water fishing. Let’s see what happens Sunday.
Check out the glovebox organization picture. Where has this magical little organization kit been my entire life?
Tomorrow is officially punch list and soup day. Sunday though? Sunday feels dangerous. Limits are obviously expected, but Logan also publicly committed that if we catch a 20 plus pound king, he’s joining Surgeon Jenn and me for the Run Ludington 5K next weekend. That alone gives me motivation.
Tomorrow morning we’re making a gigantic batch of maitake mushroom, asparagus, and potato soup. If you’re in Ludington and want a sample, hit me up…Because I would bet a lot of money you won’t be out on Lake Michigan.
400 W. Filer St., C1, Ludington, MI 49431 | Phone: 248-534-9202 | PullHardFishing@outlook.com
